Automatic system for web length measurment



Feb. 2, 1965 s. STEINBERG AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR WEB LENGTH MEASUREMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1962 Feb. 2, 1965 s. STEINBERG AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR WEB LENGTH MEASUREMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1962.

l-llll TY wm k Feb. 2, 1965 s. STEINBERG AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR WEB LENGTH MEASUREMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 11, 1962 3,167,865 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 U e st Pa eflwfii e.

. 3,167,865 AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR "WEB LENGTH I MEASUREMENT- Solomon Steinberg, New York, NY. (108'-20' 68th Rdad, Forest Hills 75, NY) Filed'Apr. 11, 1962, Ser No. 186,766

14 Claims; (Cl.-33- -127) In certaindndustrial; uses it is :highly desirable tomeasure --th e?length offa: long tcontinuous web without I stopping the 1 movement of thev web with *a consequent loss -of-machine production :of web 'fproduct.

-Thus, forgexamplefin thecase of-newspaper, magazine, form, and; similar;.printing,1 paper, coating, and other conversionsji the paper ,stock is supplied' as large heavy rolls, and I'Ef lS important ;-that .;a predetermined paper weight-area ratio be maintained. As compared-110 astandard, or special basis weight, if =tlie paper is too light W h T S;.. s: t m qan um ngi nd-inco ve ent;

It is therefore among ,the' objects of the present inven-- tionto measure the length of the-web in a given -roll,; while the roll is being :consumed as it isbeing unwound in h -mess- In modern h gh-speed Fnewspaper printing presses a plurality of rolls are mounted-pr; a .reel spider combined; with a device which aut omatical ly. connectstheend 50f one roll with the beginning Qf the ne xtz 1-9115 s uch devices f gge eued to vas aDtOP $t Iia Jh t n p ation be automatically 7 or; manually initiated. V I

FIGURE 8 'is a fragmentary I elevational "view, partly schematic, of the third embodiment 1 v FIGURE 9 is 'a circuit schematic of thethirdembodiment; L 7

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view" of the platen of FIGURE 9 and associated switch.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary'elevational'vi"w,'partly schematic, of'thefourth'embodirnenflf I g FIGURE 12 is a circuit schematic of the "fourth" em nt. g 7, FIGURE 1-2A 'is an enlarged'fde'tail view of .a portion" ofFIGURElZ. While, as I have indicated; the r'esenrinvenfion may. be used with various web fe'e'ding and transfer, devices; I have chosen forexa'mpI'eftO Show 'safine embodied in a printingpress 11 for" printing "newspapers or theflikei As vseen in FIGURE 1 a system,.generally indicated by reference character '10, isada'pted for use and coacts with one web In FIiGUR'E 1 there are'se'en five webs 12, 125,; 1219, 12d "and-12a; 'aric ifthe additional system's 'thereforegjcorr'espending vto lllfar' disposed rearward thereof and notse'en; 'Aiiy' desired number of fwe'b 's'l' maybe used with corresponding systemsg f These systems are substantially identical so that a detailed description L of onewill 'suflice'for alli i j The web'12 is suppliedfromthe consecutive intereonnecti'onof'a plurality ofi' rolls 14 4b and 14. by an a, aut'opaster"16, asthejroll's. carriedb he a ee upp1y+ carrying SpiderIS 'are rotated 'into prop I vposition,v After leaving theautopaster 16, the web 12fmaypassupwa1id through the pressroo'r'n floor-120, "about the plate cylinders 22 (inked by 'inki' distribii'tion Irollers l i andlfounta'ins s another object of the present invention toutilize I the controll ing impulses ,for the device which intereonmeets the web ends, or the actions of thesaid device itself to consecutively discontinue and initiateflhe ,action ments. i e

of a pluralityforaa series of-web= length measuring-ele- S in cef ruptures" in we b. do occur iro rri-time to time,- 4 rejoining, of the. ruptured ends or re-webbing, becomes necessary, The damagediportion of thenweb is removed;

and thus the original weight-web length ratio-becomes inaccurate-andperhaps valueless. Itis therefore among,

thebbijects of the present. invention to deactivate-athe particular webi length counter l associated "with thedamaged or shortened webroll, or to activate indicating which show I that the reading of 'a' particular: weby e e length unit counter is it'o 'be 'disregarded. V

26)';irnpie'sisiiin eyliiidersigfibver and ,down the former Sti, into'the folder 32 ,a'nd onto the"delivery iconveyor r34, ,6 This construction is well-known. in theprintingpress.lart 3 so that more detailed description thereof is not heQQS YP for an understandih of the, invention. \indi'catedg various types s uch"as 'Goss;Scott; woodj Hoeia d Cline are wellknown, among others, ,Iheiautopasters can be 4 manually or a utomatically operated, and it is the impulse; generated thereby, which may be 'mechanical electrieal, pneumatic,"-hydr;'aulic, or otherwise, which initiates. the-,- counting f action ona given web length unit counter and/6r causes a shift to another web length unit-counter, On the panel'40 are mounted plurality o-fiweb-lengthunitcounters 50, b 1 and 50C and web rupture indicating;

-. fmeans 48,1485 and-48c,- The counters are readable Sincejjm nor variations-may occur, more-accurate figure values are'obt'ained by averaging thereadings ofaplurality of web length unit counts.

I i the drawing, in {which {similar reference characters 1 designate correspondingpar ts in the several'views of eachj'embodiment: v i

'FIGURElfis asjchematicview showinga ernbodi- I ntion.

s a fragmentary gelevational viewpartly,

:3 s acirritiit sehe aaticyoruie first embodiare;iagaaa aaaisal N f 6 f is" a fragmentary j elevational FIGUREW is a circultsche'matic of the ;second;:em.-. bddir'nentJ-f x journaleda horizontalshaft; 56; which forms the support throughthe'windows 42, and print their readings on tapes 44. In: accordance with the present invention, theeactual precise length of the, roll l l will appear throughawindow-g; 42 on counter 50and fappe'arin print on a tape 44 therebelo'w, the instant that roll: 1fl :is consumed, If the; web of roll 14 should brealg or; be damaged so that-,the

removal of a part thereof; isrnecessitated, the counterq; would no longer give a true'reading oforiginal rolllength and its readingfmust be-dis regarded, Should thisoccur, thesignal light or-similariindicating means 48-'will be activated, a colored or opaque pane 84 will qbseure-the"; reading through'window 4 2,: and the printing-onltape 44 will"appear in a'distinctive color, such as red.-

As soon as. r011 14bisl connected into theaeontinuouswebby autopaster 16, the next counter 50b starts count j ing'fand'thefoperation, just described, is repeated; Simig larly theactual length" of roll' 146 is countedfon, counter, SO'i Depending'ontlie 'lengthf'of the lrunfor similarcon Q siderations, additional counters"50" andadditional r ut" 14 may be incorporatedin-the systemt Thecounters I SO-may be calibrated to read-infect or' o ther desired units of 'measurement'v v 7 3 Turning; to FIGURE 4-the counten 50" may include housing '52,v and. :betWeen: the'- vertical: s'ide wa'lls 54 the web, or thelik'e, or manually. V Thus the r011 1 4Tliaving been consumed-and'its'length having been measured, 'theimpulsein thecircuit 110 also] and 60,1,which are thereading erating mechanism .62 for. driving the counter wheels is i preferably electrically actuated (conductors 6 4' and 66, I FIGURE 3), while" resetting to zero is accomplished by the upward movementof'lever 68 by slid able rod70 of solenoid 72' when resetwinding 74 is energized. Therod 70 is frictionally retained in displaced positions thereof so thatethe magnetic slug thereon is shifted up by winding 74 and down by winding 88.

A normal or black ink printing ri'btaenso, a disregard "or red ink printing ribbon 82, and a colored vpane 84 are carried by the cradle 86, pivotally mounted on shaft56,

and'adaptedto move clockwise (FIGURE 4 upon ener- V gizatio'n of the di'srega'rd winding 88,10 a position where, the ribbon 821s directly opposite the priming platen 76 with the tape therebetweeii, 'and the pane 84 liesbetween'window 42 and the wheels 58, and cradle arm87 closes switch'83which closes circuit to activate indicator 7 Therm which, whenenergized, elevates platen 76 against gravity to ompress tape, 44 against wheels 60 withieitherribbon descends operating the tape advancementmeans 90 inv@IIIdiIIgPaWI 2, ratchet wheel 93, drive and pressure roller 95 A line source'of electrical energy (not shown) is coni nected across conductors 102and 103. The counter50- is" advanced, by the counter'advancing circuit, with energy,

traveling along conductor102 to switch 104, conductor 106,, selector switch 108, conductor 64, to counterf50, conductor 66, and conductor 103.

fOne-or more counter earns 96 are mounted on a part of 'the press ll'which moves in directtcorrelation to the lineal surface movement of the web 12.v Thus, for'example, a

,cam 96 may take the form of a protuberance on any drum or cylinderxwhich drives or is driven by the web Thus, 7 impulses for the counter may be taken fromvany active drawing or feeding roller which rotates in correlation to.

the web movement to reflect web length units, and this 1 structure .may be integral with the press or maybe an attachment, -The, impulse may be taken from .a point at the folder 32so as to get'a pluralor parallel count fora'number of webs simultaneously, and 'a break in any web"wil1 indicate that that count is tdbedisregarded. Furthermore, axial movementofan ink distributing roller.

which is timed to a'web feedingjroller can be used to in- 76 is part of thearmature77 ,of sole'noid- 78' v, which would or could be removed during normal press '80 or 82 therebetween. When de-energized, armature 77 cylinder 28, and the counter. 50 is geared or otherwise 1.

adjusted to read in lineal distance preciselyequated to the paper contacting'periphery of the cylinder 28.- As

the press 11 operates and the web 12 travels therethrough,

j the counter 50 ,will add the'total length of the web;

The autopasteru'nit 17, ofzthe system 10 is locatedon the press 11 and is connected at its" terminals 100 and l 101 to: conductors l02'and 105, respectively. 'When the roll 14 becomes exhausted,' it will be connected, to the beginning of roll 1412 by autopaster- 16 which usuallyis 'electrically' operated byan impulsein circuitllt) which powers solenoid112 and shiftsrthe autopaster arm 116 to which'is'connected known structure such as 1 brush" powerssolenoid 114whosepawl armature 115 advances i the selectorswitch 108 ito-the ne'Xtposition so that con ductor 106 now feedsj conductori64b and; counter 50121 Thistwill continuein-like manner-for'the desired number of rolls 14. and counters 50in the group or'run. After... the group or run is completed, the results on the counters 50 may be-read and recorded and may be automatically printed, and thecounters'reset. This is accomplished by 7 manually closing the reset switch'97' which first completes the circuit to the printing solenoid 78 via conductors 102, 118 and 103; and/then completes the circuit to. the reset winding 74, insolenoid 72, via conductors 1 20 and 103,-as well as the circuittto the'selectorswit'ch 108 return solenoid 109 via'conductors 122. and 103-. When ener gized, solenoid 109 pulls armature 109 thereby disengaging pawl 113 which allows spring 124 to rewindrthe switch arm in switch 108 to its original-starting position.

The web .break detector unit; 15 of the system 10 is located on the press'll' and is counectedat its terminals 130, 131 and i132 Ito conductors- 102, 134 and 136,- respectively; Any number ofunits' 15-may be used, connected in series so that .the greatertlie number: of sensing points, the'less the probability ofa break to be undetected and/or the more nearlyaccurate will be 'the readings.

Thusdthe roller sensing elements 138 are preferablylocated at a bearing on each ofthe rollersorlcylinders operation, such-as changing or:modifyingprintingcylinders or plates during the unwinding of a roll 14' to make repairs, or adjustments or tochange editions. ments :138 include a relatively fixed contact .3 139" and movable spring contactsl40rwhich openwhen a roller or cylinder 'is removed, thereby breaking, the circuit and preventing a false indication [of rupture caused'byslack in the web 12a1lowii1g-the feeler shee 142 to drop,

' Switch has an arm 161whi'chis fixed on shaft 107, as is thearrn 162 of switch 108,so that said arms move in unison. Therefore, inthe event of a web rupture, a circuit isrcompleted, through switchsl46, conductor 148,

switch 150, conductors 152 and 134,- arm 161,- conductor,

164, winding 88, and conductor 103. This pushes cradle arm :87; dow'nas previously described and switch 83 closes a circuit between conductor 102, indicatormeans '48, and conductor 103, activation will be in unison. lnflrepair,

usually the damaged section of'theaweb is cutout and theremaining free ends are joinedr This makes the reading on 'thatgparticular roll inaccurate v Because the rod 70 :(FIGUREj4) is frictionallyretained iii-shifted positions thereof,- the means 48 will stay lit, and ribbon 82 andrpane 84 willstay'injthe -.disregardfposition until reset switch 97 is closed. I

Turning now to the second embodiment 0t theirivention, as shown in FIGURES: 6 and 7, ,for the purpose of 6 0,

avoidingneedless repetition certain. of the parts corresponding tothefirst embodiment are'given the same reference characterswith the addition ,of 'a suflix, e. V

The second embodiment differs from the-*firstembodiment principallyi in provision of a singlecounter. without automatic reset, imanual resettingbeing-provided. E, a

- Thus after a reset (the closing of switch 971?), switch 156eis closed starting motor 1542; At theend of thefirst roll, the autopaster unit 17e'sends an impulse to solenoid 78; causing; the total .ithen appearing on they counter 50::

to print on 'tape-44ej a'nd this zwill repeat, at'each roll end; Ifra break has occurred, the print out will appear .in red, inKthe tapef'f44e and the indicated linear 1 distance between the 'red] number, and thejnextj preceding 'num-r berhwill3be;disregarded, ijAt' the end ofi the'run orlroll 1 75 group, switch '97 is againfc losed, whichiresets the sy s5 I The elewith automatic'reset, manual resetting being also avail-- able.

The automatic reset circuit includes a switch 17i which is mounted on the platen 76i, andwhich closes the circuit. during downward travel of the platen 76 i after the printing impression has been completed. Switch 197i includes a pivotal coutactfinger 198i, swingable between two detents. The upper surfaceof finger 1198i has an insulating member which prevents contact of the conducting portion199i during upward travel. During downward travel the portion-199i wipes the relatively station- I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of structure shown and described in this specification, for obvious modificatons will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A system for web length measurement for use with a continuous web treating machine having web feed means and means to interconnect web portions, comprising: measuring means on said web feed means supplying an impulse for a predetermined length unit of said web; a weblength unit counter; said measuring means actuating said counter; said means to interconnect being connected to said counter to stop the counter, whereby total continuous Web length may be read off said counter.

2. A system for web length measurement for use With a continuous web treating machine having web feed means ary contact point 200i, which is resiliently mounted on spring 201i.

Thus in the print when each roll is consumed, and the reading will be the length of, each roll as consumed .(except when the disregard circuit causes printing in a different color).

Turning to the fourth embodiment of the invention, as seen in FIGURES 11 and 12, for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition, certain of the parts correspondingjto theprior described embodiments are given the samereference characters withthe, addition of a suffix t f I Where the web speed is relatively fast and the counter reset time is not instantaneous, a loss in counting length may requirerapid shifting between two counters with the reset taking place in one counter during inactivity of the other counter. This is what the fourth embodiment I provides. 7

With the step switch 21 4t and the shifting switch 2102' in the position shown in FIGURE 12, the cams v961. act on switch. 1041 to intermittently close the circuit via conductors 642 and. 66t to actuate counter t.' A pulse "from the autopaster. unit: 1.7t, via conductors 212t' and 213i, energizes step relay 2141, which shifts the line voltage previously connected to winding 216t of switch 21% (viav conductor 240!) to winding 218i (via conductor 242t); causing switch210t. to move to the. right in said figure. j I i I -This does four. operations. Arm 2201, disconnects counter 50)." and connects counter 50btin circuit with switch 104t, and conductors 102L641? .andeet. Arm 222i moves to disconnect printer solenoid 78t from the circuit 102t, i, '101t, 118i, 119t, 103tto' connect solenoid 78b! via conductor 119bt. The contact 22423 is elongated-toallow sufficient timefor solenoid 78t to print, but by the time arm 222i reaches contact 2261, the pulse has discontinued and solenoid 78b't cannot print. Arm 228t, which'via conductors 1021f, 134t, 164t and 103t had completed the circuit from web break detector unit 151. to disregard winding 88t, now shifts to 164btto complete the circuit from unit 152 to disregard winding 88bit. Arm 230! (after arm 220i has decontacted conductor 64!?) closes the circuit 102i, t, to reset winding 74t by contacting the upper contact on the switch cam 231t (FIG- URE 12A), so that counter 50! maybe reset independently of the initiation ofoperation of counter 50kt.

W The next autopast'er pulse will travel to step relay 2142', causing it to sendthe line voltage to winding 2161?, via conductor 240t, thereby pulling shifting switch 2101 back to its original position in FIGURE IZ. On its trip backthe resilient pivotal finger 2321 on the end of arm 230:? contacts the lower conductive surface of switch cam 231t to provide resetting of counter 50bit.

third embodiment the counter Stli will 5 said counter.

3. A system for web length measurement for use with a continuous web treating machine having web feed means, a plurality of independent web portions, and interconnection means for'joining the'end of one web portion to the beginning of the next web portion, said system comprising: measuring means associated with said feed means providing an impulse for each predetermined unit of web length, as the web travels along said feed means; a web length unit printing counter with error indicating means; Web break sensing means connected to said indicating means; a pair ofweb length unit counters; and means actuated by the interconnection means to alternately-associate the said measuring means with said counters in turn.

4. An automatic system for web length measuremen for use with a continuous web treating machine, having a Web feedmeans, a plurality of independent rolls of 'web p ortions, means to consecutively introduce said web means for vjoining the end of one web portion to the beginning of the next web portion, said system comprising: measuring means on' said feed means providing an impulse for each predetermined unit of web length as the web travels through said feed means, a plurality of web length unit counters, said measuringqmeansbeing associated with said counters whereby the total web length units of the first web portion will be indicated on the first web length unit counter and the total length units of each of the -.remaining web length portions will be indicated selectively and separately on the remaining web length unit counters. g

5. An automatic system for web length measurement for use'with a continuous web treating machine, having a web feed means, a plurality of independent rolls of web portions, means to consecutively introduce said web portions into said web feed means, and interconnection means for joining the end of one web portion to the beginning of the next web portion, said system comprising: measuring means on said feed means providing an impulsefor each predetermined unit of web length as the web travels through said feed means, a plurality of web length unit counters, said measuring means being associated with said counters whereby the total web length units of the first web portion will be indicated-on the first web length unit counter and the total length units of each of the rernaining web length portions will be indicated selectively and separately on the remaining web length unit counters, and means to deactivate a counter when the associated web length section is broken.

'6. An automatic system for web length measurement portions, means to consecutively introduce said web portions into said web feed means, and interconnection means for joining the end of one Web portion to the beginning of the ext web portion, said system comprising: measur ing means on said feed means'providing an impulse for each predetermined unit of web length as the web travels ;through said feed means, a plurality of web length unit counters, said measuring means being associated with said counters whereby the total Web length units of the first web portion will be indicated on the first web length unit counter and the total length units of each or the remaining web length portions will be indicated selectivelyand separately on the remaining Web length unit counters,'iand means to deactivate aparticular counter 8. A system for Web length measurement for use with a continuou Web treating machine having .web feed means, a plurality of independent web portions, and interconnection means for joiningtthe end of one web portion to the beginning of the next Web'portion, said a system comprising: measuring means associated with said web feed means providing, an impulse ,for each predetermined unit of web length, as the web travels along said web feed means; a Web length .unit counter, independent web break indicating means in said counter, positively registering an error signal in said counter, and Web break sensing means'connected to said indicating means, activata ing said indicating means uponweb rupture, whereby after-the web-rupture has occurred andbeen mended, and the remainder of the roll consumed, the reading at the termination of the roll'count will show the error. i

9. A system for web length measurement for use with a continuous web treating machine having web feed of web lengthas the web travels along said web feed means; a web length unit printing counter; independent. webbreak indicating means in said counter positively registering an error signal in said counter, and Web break sensing means connected to said indicating means, activating said indicating means upon Web rupture, whereby afterthe web rupture has occurred and been mended,

and the remainder of the roll consumed,the reading at the termination of the roll count will show the error.

I 10. A system 'for web length measurement for use with a continuous web treating machinejhaving Web feed means, a plurality of independent Web portions,

and interconnection means for joining the end of one 7 Web portion to the beginning of the next web portion,

said system .comprising: measuring means associated with said web feed means providing an impulse for each a predetermined unit of length as the. web travels along said feeding means; a web length unit printing counter, error indicating means in said counter; web break sensing means connected to said indicating means, activating said indicating means uponweb breakage; and means actuated by, said interconnection means to cause t e counter to p i t,

, means, =a plurality of independent web portions, and interconnection means for joining, thelend of one web portion to the beginning of the next web portion, said system com-, prising: measuring means associated with saidweb feed means providing an impulse for each predetermined unit 11. A system for web length measurement fo'ruse with a continuous web'treating machine having Web feed means, a plurality of independent web t portions, and

interconnection means for joining the ;e nd of one web portion to .the beginning of the next web portion, said system-comprising; measuring means'associatedwith said web feed means providing an impulse forflea ch prede termined unit of web length as the webtravelsalong said feed means; a web'length unit printing counter; error indicating means in said 1 counter; "Web, break sensing means connected to said indicating means, activating said indicating meansupon web breakage; and manual means to activate said interconnection means and to simultane ously causethecounter toprint. I v j 12, A system for weblength measurement for a continuous Web treatingQmaChine having web teed means, a plurality 'of independent web portions, and interconnecting-.meansfor joining. the end of oneweb portion to the beginning of the next Web portiomfsaid system comprising: measuring .m'eans associated with, said web feed means providing an impulsejfor'eac'h predetermined unit of .-web rlength,.fas tlie 'web travels along said web feedmeans; a' 'pai'rIof Web length unit counters, and means actuated by said interconnection meansvto alternately operatively connect thesaid measuring means with said counters in turn, whereby total continuous web length may alternately be read off said counters.

13..'.A system for web length measurement for, use with "a continuousweb treating machine having web feed means.

a plurality of independent Web, portions, and interconnectingmeansfor joining the end of. one web portion to the g l ing offthe next webportion, said system comm-i ing: measuring means associated with said 'we bflfeed means, providing an impulse for eachjpredetermined unit of Web length, as theweb travels along'said webtfeed means; a' pair of web lengthunit counters, and-means the readingat the termination of the roll count will show.

the ro 7 v 14; A system for web length measurement for use with a continuous web treating machinehaving Web feed "means, a plurality "of independentweb portions; and interactuated by said interconnection meansto alternately operatively connect said measuring means with one .of said counters and causing the other counterto print, independent error indicating means in each of said counters positively registering an-error signal in said counters," and web break sensing means connected to said indicating means,

"activating the same upon Web rupture, whereby after the vweb rupture has, occurred and been mended, and theremainder of theroll consumed, thetreading at thetermination of the roll count will show the error.

References Cited in the file of patent I i UNITED STATES PATENTS use with 1 

1. A SYSTEM FOR WEB LENGTH MEASUREMENT FOR USE WITH A CONTINUOUS WEB TREATING MACHINE HAVING WEB FEED MEANS AND MEANS TO INTECONNECT WEB PORTIONS, COMPRISING: MEASURING MEANS ON SAID WEB FEED MEANS SUPPLYING AN IMPULSE FOR A PREDETERMINED LENGTH UNIT OF SAID WEB; A WEB LENGTH UNIT COUNTER; SAID MEASURING MEANS ACUTATING SAID COUNTER; SAID MEANS TO INTERCONNECT BEING CONNECTED 